Draft-gear for railway-vehicles.



I J. H. MGOORMIOK. DRAFT GEAR FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.14,1010 W Patented Feb. 9, 1915i ammvtoz ejbhn HJwCormion time snares rarest eerie.

JOHN H. m'c'oonmren, or BEXLEY, OHIQ.

DRAFT-GEAR. son RAIL\VA'Y'-VEHICLES.

1,1 emcee.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

Application filed November 14, 1910. Serial K975192141.

railway vehicles, and is designed as an im-' provement of my frictiondraft and butting apparatus, Patent No. 719,949, and the pendingapplication for Letters Patent, filed by me June. 8, 1908, Serial Number437,307. This improved construction contemplates the provision of adraft gear wherein additional strength and friction surface will beobtained without moi-easing the slze or weight of the device, at thesame time more evenly distributing the pressure than it has beenheretofore. v

It also is designed to provide an outside spring which is readilyaccessible when the same becomes damaged, or is to be, inspected.

'A further object-of this invention is to insure the .positive return ofthe elements under the highest possible resistance, after compressionand also to provide means whereby the compression friction or resistancemay be increased without in any way changing the release resistance.With the above and other objects in view, this invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as hereinaftermore fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal horizontal section of a draft gearconstructed in accordance with the present invention, Fig. 2

is a transverse section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, certain detailsbeing omitted for a more ready appreciation of the essentials,

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on lin e 33 outer end. while the rearwedging device 10" is prov ded with a similar collar 11. A series ofpockets l2, l2 and 12* are formed in the wedging element 10 adjacent tothe inner surface of the collar 11 and are arranged centrally at theterminals of the radii of said wedging device, disposed rela- 'tively atangles'of 120 degrees. The rear Wallof the pockets 12, 12 and 12 are ofincreasing thickness, the Wall of the pocket l2 being of greaterthickness than the wall of the pocket 12. The front walls 13 of thepockets are of a uniform thickness and have their inner surfaces beveledat an acute angle of a small number of degrees. From this description,it will be readily understood that the pockets 12, 12 and 12 are ofequally decreasing size, dependent upon the gradually increasing.thickness of the forward walls thereof. The rear tubular member orwedgmg device 10' is provided with a series of pockets 1%, said pocketsbeing A disposed adjacent to the inner side of the collar 11 andarranged similarly to the pockets of the forward wedging device. Thesepockets 14 are of uniform size and have the forward faces thereof openfor the purposes hereinafter more fully described. The inner Wall 15 ofthe pockets 14 are sloped or beveled at an acute angle, of a greaternumber of degrees than the slope or bevel of the acute angle of theinner wall 13 of the pockets 1'2, 12 and 12 The provision of the collars11 and 11 at or near the point of location. of the pockets, isparticularly advantageous in that a greatly -in creased rigidity ofstructure is effected which necessarily gives a maximum facility forwear and strength.

A series of friction elements 16 are arranged in the tubular members'orwedging devices 10 and 10', said friction elements forming a cylindricalmember when combined, the outer surface of which gradually slopes to acentral peripheral point. Each alternate friction element 16 isoppositely arranged, said friction elements having the,

lugs 17 formed at one terminal thereof. As there are SIX of thesefriction elements, there are consequently six lugs, three of which arelocated in the pockets 12, 1'2 and '12" of the forward wedging device,and three of "which are contained or housed within the pockets lei ofthe rear wedgmg or tubular member 10'. The slope of the outer faces ofthe lugs 17 conforms to the'slope of the inner faces of the pockets inwhich said lugs are housed. I

A coiled spring 18 encircles the inner terminals of the wedgin'g devicesand bears as a forward terminai' a'gainst' theipoelgets 12, 12 and 12and at its inner terminal against the lugs 17 housed'in the pockets 14.It is essential in these devices that the elements be as few and asaccessible as possible and I the provision of the spring in externalrelation to all of the parts is particularly advantageous.

The entire device is mounted between the followers 19 which bear againstthe outer surfaces of the collars 11 and 11. The bearin ofthe followersat this particular point is particularly advantageous, since this is thepoint subject to the greatest strain and shock. It will be noted thatthe contacting surfaces of the followers 19 and the collarsll and 11 arein the form of concentric arcs to give a slight universal move ment andplay to the parts. The draft gear constructed as heretofore described,is mounted on a car in the usual and standard manner,

.From this construction, it will readily be understood that after thecompression of the friction elements of this invention, has taken place,the release thereof should be of a positive nature and yet eliminate allshocks and to have at the same'time a gradual move ment. Toprovide' forthis and at the same time eliminate the great strain which naturally isexerted upon the spring, the

,poclretslQ, 12 and 12 are constructed as heretofore described and itWill be understood that the spring acting upon said pockets, will forcethe tubular member outwardly; This movement causes the inner wall of thepockets 12, 12* and 12? to successively contact with the projections 17housed therein. Thus it will be seen that the frictionelements]Qparryingthese projections,

will be started, not-"simultaneously, but at different inte gvals oLtime,until the inner walls of the pockets all bear) against theircorresponding projections," at which time said friction elements willmove simultaneously.

It Will be noted that the inclines of the Walls 13 and thecoactinginclines of the lugs or shoulders 17 are greater than the inclincs ofthe walls 15 and consequently the wedging action of the Walls 13 withthe shoulders l7,'is much greater and more difficult of release, Thisiscompensated for by the provision of the spring 18 hearing against. themember 10 at one end, but against the segmental sections 16 at its otherend. Thus the segmental sections having their shoulders at one end, willbe maintained substantially immovable and the.

spring will force the element 10, against the shoulders embracedthereby, to a point to release the sections successively.

lVhat I claim is- 1. In a draft gear, a friction structure comprising aplurality of friction elements having external friction surfaces, a capfor each end of said frletion elements forming ficomplemental frictionelements, andv a spring encircling said elements and said caps andforcing said caps apart.

2. In a draft gear, afriction structure comprising a plurality ofsectoral elements in frictional engagement with each other when inassembled relation and having external friction surfaces,a cap for eachend of said friction elements forming complemental friction elementstherewith, and a spring encircling said elements and said capsandforcing said caps apart.

3. In a draft gear, a friction structure comprising a plurality ofelements in assembled relation and increasing in assembled diametertoward'a central point, complemental friction caps for-the ends of saidassembled elements, and a spring encircling said elements and a portionof said caps and tending to forc'e said caps apart.

, 4. Ina draft gear, a friction structure. comprising a plurality ofsectoral elements in assembled relation and increasing in as sembleddiameter toward a central point,

internally flaring caps inclosing the ends of relation, friction caps onthe ends ofsaid assembled elements and having internal pockets,shoulders on said elements loosely fitting in said pockets, a spring forforcing said caps apart, the inner walls of the pockets being relativelystepped to have successive contact with said shouldersunder the effectof said spring.

'7. In a draft gear, a plurality of friction elements, complementalfriction caps upon both ends of said elements, wedgingsurfaces on saidcaps, means for successively releasing? certain of saidfrictlonelements, wedgin, surfaces on the successively released elements, andcomparatively abrupt wcdging 'siirfaces on the other of said elem tgnts.In a draft gear, a plurality of friction menses elements having frictionfaces and Wedging faces, a complemental member at each end of theassembled friction elements, each member having Wedging faces forcoaction with the wedging faces of said assembled elements, a spring fornormally maintaining release position of said assembled elements andhearing directly against one end of the assembled elements and againstthe complemental member engaging the opposite end of said assembledelements, the Wedging faces on the end or" said assembled on which saidspring bears'directly being more abrupt than the Wedging face in theopposite end of said assembled elements.

9. In a draft gear, a friction structure comprising a plurality ofsectoral elements in assembled relation, shoulders on said elementsdisposed at opposite ends of adjacent elements, caps frictionallymounted on the ends of said assembled elements and having pockets theloose reception of said shoulders, a spring for forcing said caps apart,the inner Walls of the pockets of one cap being relatively stepped tosuccessively move the elements Whose shoulders they emloraee.

10, In a draft gear, a friction structure comprising a plurality ofsectoral elements in assembled relation, shoulders on said elementshaving Wedging inclines disposed at opposite ends of adjacent elements,caps frictionally mounted on the ends of said assembled elements andhaving pockets for the loose reception of said shoulders, the wedginginclines of one set of shoulders and the pockets in their cap beinggreater than those in the other cap, and a spring bearing against onecap and against the shoulders Within the other cap.

11. In a draft gear, a plurality of sectoral friction elements infrictional engagement with each other when in assembled relation andhaving external friction faces, complemental friction caps for the endsof said assembled elements, a spring for normally maintaining saidelements in release position, and socketed follower heads for supportingthe assembled gear by engagement with said caps.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature presence of two Witnesses.

- JOHN H. MoCORMICK. Witnesses:

firmness S. WILSON, C. C. Snnrnnno.

